Extensible camping trailer

ABSTRACT

A longitudinally and laterally extensible camping trailer formed by a collapsible body supported on a chassis whose rear end is mounted on a set of wheels, the front end thereof being hitchable to a vehicle. The body includes a box-like main housing affixed to the chassis and a similarly shaped sub-housing of slightly smaller volume receivable within the main housing and pivoted thereto, whereby when the sub-housing is rotated 180* about its pivot, the main and sub-housings together form a longitudinally elongated chamber having an open side. Also pivoted to the main housing are a plurality of housing segments which in the collapsed state internest within the main housing, and in the expanded state define a bay section enclosing theopen side of the chamber and laterally expanding the volume thereof.

United States Pawn? 1 Fackre June 5,1973

[54] EXTENSIBLE CAMPING TRAILER [76] Inventor: John S. Fackre, 1936Linden Street,

Ridgewood, NY. 11227 221 Filed: Oct.6,l971

21 Appl.No.: 186,862

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1962 Bruce ..52/65 5/1956Pace............... .........296/3l FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS665,853 7/1963 Canada ..296/23 Primary ExaminerPhilip Goodman AssistantExaminer-John A. Carroll AttorneyMichael Ebert [57] ABSTRACT Alongitudinally and laterally extensible camping trailer formed by acollapsible body supported on a chassis whose rear end is mounted on aset of wheels, the front end thereof being hitchable to a vehicle. Thebody includes a box-like main housing affixed to the chassis and asimilarly shaped sub-housing of slightly smaller volume receivablewithin the main housing and pivoted thereto, whereby when thesub-housing is rotated 180 about its pivot, the main and sub-housingstogether form a longitudinally elongated chamber having an open side.Also pivoted to the main housing are a plurality of housing segmentswhich in the collapsed state internest within the main housing, and inthe expanded state define a bay section enclosing theopen side of thechamber and laterally expanding the volume thereof.

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S. Pack/e6 EXTENSIBLE CAMPING TRAILER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to extensible housings, and moreparticularly to a camping trailer which is readily towable in thecollapsed state and affords a commodious accommodation in the expandedstate.

With the growing popularity of camping and the enlarged facilitiesavailable therefor in state and national parks, the need exists forcollapsible housings which may be transported to the camping site andeasily erected. Though large-size tents may be used for this purpose,there are practical difficulties which discourage their use. A smallfoldable tent may be carried by a hiker to a camp site. But where, as isoften the case, a group of campers travel by automobile to a remote campsite, then it may not be feasible or desirable to bring along tents.

In a typical situation in which a family vehicle is used to take four tosix passengers to a camp site, the vehicle is quite capable of carryingthe passengers, but it may not have adequate space for the foodsupplies, clothing, utensils, stoves and sundry other equipment thatcamping entails. And even if it were somehow possible to stow in thisequipment, no room remains for bulky bags containing tents.

It is for this reason that camping trailers have been developed, both asa carrier for camping equipment, and as a sleeping accommodation for thecampers. The trailer, when hitched to the vehicle, must be relativelycompact or short in order for the vehicle to be able to negotiate sharpturns. On the other hand, the trailer, when camped, must be sufficientlycommodious to provide sleeping quarters for the campers. Because therequirements for roadability and camping are incompatible, campingtrailers have been developed having an extensible body, the body beingshort and compact when on the road, and being expanded when camped.

Thus in US. Pat. No. 2,127,580, there is disclosed a camping trailermade of a sectioned main body whose front part is supplemented by asmaller rear section that is adapted to telescope within the main body.When collapsed, the length of the trailer is that of the main body, andwhen extended the length is that of the combined sections.

In a trailer intended to be towed by a standard automobile, it isimportant, for reasons of safety, that the width of the trailer notexceed to any great degree the width of the vehicle, for otherwise itbecomes difficult for the driver to judge the road requirements of thetrailer hitched to his vehicle. Since the width of the standard vehicleis usually not more than 6 feet, this imposes a strict limit on theacceptable width of the trailer.

Hence, though the trailer width is sufficient for carrying campingequipment, the trailer as a housing accommodation for human occupants,leaves much to be desired for however long the trailer housing, itremains narrow and cramped. The volume of a trailer which is onlylongitudinally extensible may be stepped up but the resultant spacedistribution is such as to militate against the comfort of the campers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is the main objectof this invention to provide an extensible camping trailer which in thecollapsed state is highly compact and suitable for towing by a standardpassenger vehicle, and in the expanded state affords a commodious,comfortable accommodation for campers.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide alight-weight, all weather trailer of the abovedescribed type, which isextensible both longitudinally and laterally, whereby the resultantaccommodation is sizable both in length and breadth.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a trailer of the abovetype, which may be quickly expanded or collapsed, without the need forspecial tools or more than ordinary skill.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extensible campingtrailer of simple design which may be mass-produced and sold atrelatively low cost.

Briefly stated, these objects are attained in an extensible campingtrailer formed by a chassis having a collapsible body mounted thereon,the rear end of the chassis being supported on a set of wheels, thefront end thereof being hitchable to a towing vehicle.

The body includes a box-like main housing section affixed to the chassisand having an open side and an open end, and a similarly shapedsub-housing section of slightly smaller volume receivable within themain housing section and pivoted thereto, whereby when the sub-housingis rotated about its pivot, the main and sub-housing sections togetherform a longitudinally elongated chamber having an open side. p

Also pivotally connected to the main housing section are a plurality oftelescopically arranged housing segments which in the collapsed statefit within the main housing, and in the expanded state define a baysection enclosing the open side of the chamber and laterally expandingthe interior volume thereof to provide a commodious accommodation forcampers.

While the body is described herein for use in conjunction with a trailerchassis, it is to be understood that it is also usable as a collapsiblehousing for backyard storage, or any other useful purpose.

OUTLINE OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of the invention aswell as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made tothe following detailed description to be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view facing the starboard side of an extensiblecamping trailer in accordance with the invention, the body of thetrailer being illustrated in its collapsed state;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same trailer facing the port sidethereof;

FIG. 3 is the same view of the trailer shown in FIG. 2, but detachedfrom the towing vehicle and with its supporting arms extended;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the body of the trailer, taken inthe plane indicated by line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the trailer in the expanded state;

FIGI 6 is a plan view of the trailer in the expanded state;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the weatherproofing edges of matingsections of the body when separated from each other; and

FIG. 8 shows the weatherproofing edges when in abutting relation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and moreparticularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a camping trailer inaccordance with the invention, the trailer including a rectangular frameor chassis, generally designated by numeral 10, having a triangularforward or bow section 11, hitched at its apex to a towing vehicle,which may be any conventional automobile or small truck. The rear end ofchassis is supported by a wheel set 12 formed by an axle having a pairof wheels thereon. In practice, for a very large and heavy trailer, twowheel sets may be used.

Mounted on top of chassis 10 is a collapsible body, generally designatedby numeral 13. In practice, one may provide a shorter trailer than thatshown. This is done by arranging the set of wheels 12 so that the wheelsand axle are normally positioned below the rear portion of the body 13,rather than displaced thereform as shown in the figures, therebyimproving the roadability of the structure. In this event, it isnecessary, when the body is to be expanded, to shift the set of wheelsto the position shown in the drawing. For this purpose, the set ofwheels is made slidable relative to the rear of the chassis,so that itmay be displaced from the road position to the camping position.

Chassis 10 is provided at the junction of the frame and the bow 11 witha cross-arm 14 which is rotatable 90. A pair of spaced legs 15 and 16are attached to arm 14, the legs normally lying in the horizontal plane.However, when cross-arm 14 is rotated, legs 15 and 16 extend downwardlyto support the front end of the chassis, this being done when thetrailer is detached from the towing vehicle which otherwise supports thefront end.

Chassis 10, as best seen in FIG. 3, is provided at its port side with apivoted short arm 17 having a retractable leg 18 at its free end, and apivoted long arm 19 having a retractable leg 20 at its free end. Shortarm 17 is pivotally connected to the frame at a point adjacent bow 11,while long arm 19 is pivoted at a point displaced therefrom to provide,when the short and long arms are outstretched, spaced extensions forsupporting sections of the body 13 in the expanded state (see FIG. 6).

Collapsible body 13 is constituted by a main housing section 13A, asub-housing section 13B and three wedge-shaped housing segments 13C, 13Dand 13E, all of which internest in the collapsed state to form a highlycompact structure.

The body elements may be fabricated of highstrength, light-weight panelsmade of reinforced fiber glass or of aluminum having a honeycomb core.Also usable are commercially available types of structural laminatesformed of plastic, metal, wood or combinations thereof.

Main housing section 13A has a box-like configura- I 13B is pivotallyconnected to main section 13A at vertically aligned pivot points 21 and22 on the roof and floor of the main section, which points are adjacentthe front end thereof.

Hence when sub-section 13B, which normally nests within the main section13A, is rotated 180 about its pivots, it is then extended longitudinallyfrom the main section, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the extendedstate, sub-sectionl3B rests on the bow l 1 of the chassis and issupported thereby. The longitudinal dimension of the chamber is almostdoubled when the sub-section is extended, the chamber having an openportside.

Segments 13C, 13D and 13E are also swingable about pivot points 21 and22. The heights of subsection 13B and of segments 13C, 13D and 13E areprogressively stepped so that these housing elements may be telescopedwithin the main housing section. When extended, the three telescopingsegments 13C, 13D and 13E together form an outwardly curved bay sectionbellying laterally from the body to enlarge the chamber.

Segment 13E is supported on the out-stretched long arm 19, while segment13D is supported on short arm 17. Segment 13C, the edges of whose flooroverlap those of segment 13D and sub-section 13B, is supported thereby.

In practice, removable partitions, ledges, bunks or beds may be providedto break-up the interior living space in any desired manner as well asto afford sleeping accommodations and other facilities. For'purposes ofsimplicity, windows, vents, doors, etc., have been omitted from thedrawing.

As shown in FIGS. Sand 6, when the semgnet and sections are expanded,junctions therebetween are created at lines J1, J2, J3 and J4. In orderto weatherproof the body, these junctions must be effectively sealed.This is preferably accomplished in the manner shown in FIGS. 7 and 8where it will be seen that a strip 23 having a triangular cross-sectionis affixed adjacent the edge of one panel member 24, which may be one ofthe two body elements forming a junction, and a complementary strip 25is mounted on the other panel member 26.

Strip 25 is not affixed to panel member 26 but is slid- ,ably mountedthereon on a pin 27. Strip 25 is biased by a spring 28 such that, asshown in FIG. 8, when the body is expanded and panels 24 and 26 areshifted relative to each other, strip 23 engages slidable strip 25 andforces it against the action of spring 28 along pin 27 to the endthereof. The spring 28 then serves to urge strip 25 against strip 23 tomaintain a weatherproof seal.

While there have been shown and described preferred embodiments of anextensible camping trailer, in accordance with the invention, it will beappreciated that many changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. A collapsible housing body for use as a trailer comprising:

A. a box-like main housing section having an open end and an open side,B. a similarly shaped sub-housing section of slightly reduced volumereceivable within said main section and pivoted thereto at a pointadjacent the open end thereof whereby when the sub-section is rotated land thereby extended from the main housing section, the resultantchamber is longitudinally expanded and has an open side,

C. a plurality of telescoping housing segments pivoted on said point andnestable within said main section, said segments when expanded,enclosing said open-side to define a bay section laterally expandingsaid chamber, and

D. a chassis supporting said housing body and front end of the chassiswhose rear end is mounted on wheels, the front end of the chassis havingan extension to support said sub-housing when it is extended.

2. A body as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sections and saidsegments are provided with matching convex end walls.

panded state.

1. A collapsible housing body for use as a trailer comprising: A. abox-like main housing section having an open end and an open side, B. asimilarly shaped sub-housing section of slightly reduced volumereceivable within said main section and pivoted thereto at a pointadjacent the open end thereof whereby when the subsection is rotated180* and thereby extended from the main housing section, the resultantchamber is longitudinally expanded and has an open side, C. a pluralityof telescoping housing segments pivoted on said point and nestablewithin said main section, said segments when expanded, enclosing saidopen side to define a bay section laterally expanding said chamber, andD. a chassis supporting said housing body and front end of the chassiswhose rear end is mounted on wheels, the front end of the chassis havingan extension to support said sub-housing when it is extended.
 2. A bodyas set forth in claim 1, wherein said sections and said segments areprovided with matching convex end walls.
 3. A body as set forth in claim1, wherein said sections and said segments are formed by reinforcedfiber glass panels.
 4. A body as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidsections and said segments are formed by aluminum panels having ahoneycomb core.
 5. A body as set forth in claim 1, wherein said segmentsare formed by three internesting wedge-shaped housing elements.
 6. Abody as set forth in claim 1, further including pivoted side arms onsaid chassis, which when out-stretched, support segments of said body inthe expanded state.